LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
Since he seems to want to expose everyone to his nonsense, Kolgradd stays where he is an channels all the power and magic he has into his strike.
The blood trickling down Aeptolinu’s body seems to coalesce onto his dagger, seeming to punctuate its sharpness. Aeptolinu looks up at Kolgradd and says ◆”Do you believe that there is a purpose left?”
Kolgradd is immobilized for 1 round and MUST answer Aeptolinu’s question:
If “Yes,” open the spoiler below
Spoiler:
”Then you shall see the truth with eyes like mine.”
Aeptolinu makes two Strikes then ◆ Rends. Open the “If ‘No’” spoiler at the end of this post to see the results of those Strikes/Rend; ignore everything else in that spoiler. -86 HP (after resistances) and 6d6 persistent bleed
If “No,” open the spoiler below
Spoiler:
”Then I shall hasten the inevitable conclusion.”
Aeptolinu makes two Strikes then ◆ Rends. Open the “If ‘No’” spoiler at the end of this post to see the results of those Strikes/Rend; ignore everything else in that spoiler. -86 HP (after resistances) and 6d6 persistent bleed
Aeptolinu certainly doesn't seem as dangerous as the great worm to Jevar. A continuing battle of attrition seems appropriate at the moment. Perhaps his aim will improve.
◆◆ Cast a spell ignition Spell attack RED, fire damage:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 248d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4) = 23 On a critical success, the target takes double damage and 7d4 persistent fire damage.
... his aim has worsened. The fire flies by Kolgradd's head.
Thoroughly irritated with the man's repetitive questions (not to mention his attempt to murder them all), Shohreh once again channels her divine power and tries to slam him to the ground.
Void from 7th-rank harm, DC 33 Fort:7d10 ⇒ (10, 2, 10, 5, 1, 9, 8) = 45Prone on any damage, you know the drill
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
Did the Frightened from Intimidating Strike not affect him?
"Yes you fatuous nincompoop, yes! Aaargh!"
Kolgradd swings from anger to pain quite quickly, but his legs have turned to stone and he can't even flee.
M Gnome Bard 14 | HP 162 | AC 33 | F +22 R +22 W +24 (Success -> Crit Success) | Perc +23 (+2 vs Initiative), Imprecise Scent | Speed 25 ft | Focus 2/2 | Spells: 1st 3/3 2nd 3/3 3rd 3/3 4th 3/3 5th 3/3 6th 3/3 7th 3/3 | Staff Charges: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Boodiddly's eyes soften somewhat as the man's repeating questions repeat themselves once again. I suppose being here alone would cause anyone's mind to break eventually. Choosing to ignore what that line of thought might imply for his future, he claps and whistles in his own repeating motif.
Did the Frightened from Intimidating Strike not affect him?
I apologize; it DID affect him, and my copy-pasting means I completely forgot to include that he was frightened in his attacks. None of his then changed from that -1 from frightened, so it is a bit of a moot point, but thank you for pointing it out regardless.
Jevar throws fire and misses.
Boodiddly harmonizes.
Kolgradd slams his hammer into Aeptolinu, but the man remains standing! Retroactively applying the courageous anthem
Persistent Bleed:6d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 6, 5, 3) = 25 DC 15 flat:1d20 ⇒ 9Rallying anthem reduces this since its physical damage.
Kolgradd is immobilized for 1 round and MUST answer Aeptolinu’s question:
If “Yes,” open the spoiler below
Spoiler:
”Then you shall see the truth with eyes like mine.”
Aeptolinu makes two Strikes. Open the “If ‘No’” spoiler at the end of this post to see the results of those Strikes; ignore everything else in that spoiler. -2 HP (after resistances and assuming Shield Block) and 3d6 persistent bleed
If “No,” open the spoiler below
Spoiler:
”Then I shall hasten the inevitable conclusion.”
Aeptolinu makes two Strikes. Open the “If ‘No’” spoiler at the end of this post to see the results of those Strikes; ignore everything else in that spoiler. -2 HP (after resistances and assuming Shield Block) and 3d6 persistent bleed
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
He wouldn't shield block yet, he'd want to keep the AC boost as long as possible. He'll do it if the damage would otherwise knock him out, gambling that the immortal will stick to physical attacks
"Yes yes, will you shut up man?"
Absently Kolgradd brings his shield back up, and turns to Shohreh for even more aid as she patches up the vicous wounds he's taking.
If you want to simplify the posts Kolgradd is never going to give this nihilist the satisfaction of changing his mind. He'd like to stop answering, but if compelled it will be Yes
M Gnome Bard 14 | HP 162 | AC 33 | F +22 R +22 W +24 (Success -> Crit Success) | Perc +23 (+2 vs Initiative), Imprecise Scent | Speed 25 ft | Focus 2/2 | Spells: 1st 3/3 2nd 3/3 3rd 3/3 4th 3/3 5th 3/3 6th 3/3 7th 3/3 | Staff Charges: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
"Oh there's a pur-pose, yeah! You make your pur-pose, yeah! So what's your pur-pose, yeah!" Boodiddly's cheerful melody is quite an earworm, and his clapping doesn't do much to stop the urge to sing along.
Casting rallying anthem [A] and infectious melody (Will DC 33), using 4 staff charges [AA].
He wouldn't shield block yet, he'd want to keep the AC boost as long as possible. He'll do it if the damage would otherwise knock him out, gambling that the immortal will stick to physical attacks
Noted.
Jevar sends fire then misses.
I’m…gonna replace Boodiddly’s spell with a Harmonize, because…it’s a 15-foot emanation, and Aeptolinu isn’t within 15 feet. And it isn’t an aura.
Boodiddly Harmonizes.
Kolgradd Delays which means he takes the persistent damage.
Shohreh moves in to stop Kolgradd’s bleeding! Which reduces the flat check DC to 10 and grants an additional flat check immediately.
DC 10 flat:1d20 ⇒ 1
Kolgradd heals himself on Shohreh then swings and misses. Even with the retroactive courageous anthem
Kolgradd Thunderiron wrote:
If you want to simplify the posts Kolgradd is never going to give this nihilist the satisfaction of changing his mind. He'd like to stop answering, but if compelled it will be Yes
That does indeed make things significantly easier. So let’s streamline a bit, shall we?
”Then you shall see the truth with eyes like mine.”
Aeptolinu vs Kolgradd w/rallying anthem & shield:1d20 + 32 ⇒ (19) + 32 = 51Bit late on my part, but…I just noticed that his attack is fatal d12!!! Slashing Damage (doubled and fatal from crit):3d12 + 14 ⇒ (2, 6, 4) + 14 = 26 plus 3d6 6d6 persistent bleed
Fatal d12:1d12 ⇒ 12
In desperation, Shohreh reaches to the heavens for aid, and is rewarded with a sudden bolt of lightning that strikes Kolgradd directly above his heart. Instead of felling the dwarf, it supercharges him with divine energy.
Healing from shock to the system:8d8 ⇒ (7, 4, 6, 6, 8, 6, 1, 6) = 44 Kolgradd, for the next minute you are quickened, and can use the action to Stand, Stride, Strike, or Fly (if you've got a fly speed, obv). You can also cast 5th-rank thunderstrike (5d12 electricity and 5d4 sonic) at will using my spell DC of 33. You're also concealed by a tiny little thunder cloud until your next turn (or if you move out of the square you're in).
Healing from vital beacon is now 5d8.
◆◆ Cast shock to the system on Kolgradd
◆ Draw starknife
↻ Blood vendetta
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
That's so cool thank you
As Kolgradd is torn apart, an involuntary low growl starts in his throat, getting louder as he triesto defend himself and his flesh is ripped. When he's struck by magical lightning, it becomes an ear piercing scream.
If I'm reading this right everything is hidden to me.
Inside the cloud he reaches out to where Shohreh was just a moment ago
◆ Interact to tap Shohreh
DC 11 Flat:1d20 ⇒ 8
But he can't find her, so he discharges some of the electricty in the direction of Aeptolinu...
◆◆ Thunder Strike
DC 11 Flat:1d20 ⇒ 6
but the lightning smashes into the ground near him instead. Hearing the miss, Kolgradd adjusts and slams his hammer just to the right...
And Kolgradd, you're only concealed, not hidden. So DC 5 flat check, and all your actions succeeded!
Not sure where you’re getting that; shock to the system specifies hidden and Kolgradd doesn’t have Blind-Fight.
Jevar throws fire but misses.
Boodiddly calls down a crack of acoustics!
Aeptolinu basic Fort:1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25
And this causes Aeptolinu (perhaps a bit anticlimactically) explode, but instead of viscera, he explodes in a wave of a fire of vital energy that completely consumes his form, leaving no remains.
Gonna continue with Shohreh’s turn, since Kolgradd is REALLY low on HP.
Shohreh moves over and supercharges Kolgradd with divine lightning!
Dealing with Kolgradd’s bleed:
Shohreh Medicine to Administer First Aid:1d20 + 27 ⇒ (18) + 27 = 45
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
After the fight, Kolgradd's could barely sit still long enough to have his bleeding tended to. As soon as it was he had to run around like an excited child to get rid of some of his energy, blasting arcs of electricty as he went.
Later, with the ritual complete, he is more relaxed.
"Even if we fail in our mission, at least we'll have spared the world that monster's insufferable questioning! I swear it was worse than the flesh-rending"
He puts on a face and a mocking voice "Is there a purpose? Is there a purpose?
"What a moron. A ninnyhammer, an utter mumpsimus!"
It's clear Kolgradd was rattled by the experience, but he catches himself before he gets too animated and clears his throat.
"You're right Jevar we should complete the Stelae now we've activated these too, but if we can find Upianshe's sword before we return we may be able to put her spirit to rest. That's a good deed in and of itself of course, but if it means we needn't fight her again it benefits us too. Perhaps a quick scan about the shore? I'm loathe to actually enter that accursed lake"
It doesn't occur to Kolgradd that having promised he'd do his best he'd normally be honour-bound to do so.
Hundreds of boulders are piled here, creating a crude, twenty-foot-tall altar that leans against the east wall like a crumbling ziggurat. Expired candles and a variety of skulls perch atop the stones, and designs of fearsome red ochre decorate the facade. Map Updated
And standing near the altar are two massive, horned fiends that seem to eye each other with a bit of suspicion. But when they see the former-amnesiacs approach, they look at each other, nod, and draw their falchions to attack!
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes half damage.
Failure The creature takes full damage.
Critical Failure The creature takes double damage and becomes blinded by the darkness for an unlimited duration.
Eclipse Burst wrote:
If the globe overlaps with an area of magical light or affects a creature affected by magical light, eclipse burst attempts to counteract the light effect.
So, one quick thing I forgot to mention about the Snarl: with the exception of the area surrounding the Star Stele, the entire map is difficult terrain.
Red ◆ Strides forward and stomps his foot on the ground! This simple act, for some reason, causes the precarious, overhead “buildings” of the Snarl to break apart, filling a 45-foot burst centered on Red, but that’s inexplicably seems to completely miss the fiend. it’s actually a 40-foot emanation, but you get the idea. ◆◆ Rain of Debris. And then I’m gonna assume Boodiddly uses a ↻ 5th-rank shadow siphon
Shohreh forces her way through to Boodiddly's far side, where she hurriedly rushes through sealing his injury while another hand slaps the fiend to the ground.
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
On Difficult Terrain:
Is it difficult terrain due to stone (i.e rubble or gravel)? Because Kolgradd can ignore that
Wanting to get at least one of these fiends away from his friends, Kolgradd shifts his hammer into one hand, lowers his shoulder and drives at the nearest fiend.
"Back Beast!"
◆ Step / Stride
◇ Release Hammer Grip to 1-handed
◆ Shove
Athletics:1d20 + 27 ⇒ (16) + 27 = 43 If that's a success He'll use his Avalanche Boots! He will definitely move with it
Little good that it might do, Jevar takes a careful step to the middle of the party.
◆ Step
He unleashes a powerful bolt of lightning that bounces between the two fiends.
◆◆ Cast a spell: Chain Lightning through RED, BLUE RED, BLUE Electricity damage, DC33 Basic Reflex:8d12 ⇒ (11, 11, 11, 9, 10, 4, 9, 2) = 67Damage to each until one critically saves and breaks the chain
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
Reeling from the spell (and the hit), Kolgradd realises he needs to be on guard for further casting.
◆ Enter Disruptive Stance
"Down here fiend!" he barks at his opponent, trying to draw his attention
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is stupefied 2 for 1 round.
Failure The target is stupefied 4 with an unlimited duration.
Critical Failure The target's intellect is permanently reduced below that of an animal, and it treats its Charisma, Intelligence, and Wisdom modifiers as –5. It loses all class abilities that require mental faculties, including all spellcasting. If the target is a PC, they become an NPC under the GM's control.
Never Mind wrote:
The effects of this curse can be removed only through effects that target curses.
I'd definitely like to retaliate with blood vendetta, cause that's very rude of him!
Shohreh staggers under the blow, but manages to keep her wits about her enough to cast a protective spell and back out of the monster's reach. She stops the bleeding with a powdered coagulant before finally making a counterattack with her starknife.
Battle Medicine for self, DC 30:1d20 + 27 ⇒ (6) + 27 = 33 Healing:2d8 + 40 ⇒ (6, 5) + 40 = 51
Starknife vs Blue:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (7) + 23 = 30 Slashing, Ghost Touch:3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3, 4) + 3 = 13 plus Spirit:1d6 ⇒ 4 for 17 damage and 6 temp HP
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
Slower than he'd like, Kolgradd continues to hammer away at his fiend in an effort to draw its attention from his friends
Shohreh pounces on the opening created by Jevar's mental attack, flooding the minds of both fiends with their own worst fears and nightmares, before treating the wizard's bleeding injuries.
Battle Medicine for Jevar, DC 30:1d20 + 27 ⇒ (4) + 27 = 31 Healing:2d8 + 40 ⇒ (5, 4) + 40 = 49
◆ Battle Medicine
◆◆ Cast 3rd-rank fear on Red and Blue, DC 33 Will
Jevar casts a spell Technically that triggers a reaction, but I’m gonna say that Blue’s overwhelming need to run away takes precedence over that. that traps Blue in an illusory box then moves away.
Blue begins panicking inside the box, quizzically shouting ”I need to stay in here!” as he desperately searches for a method of escape.
◆ Blue Perception; frightened 3 | DC 33:1d20 + 22 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 22 - 3 = 21
Seeing no way out, he then desperately tries to attack the “walls!” As a purely visual illusion, though, his sword passes straight through.
◆ Blue Perception; frightened 3 | DC 33:1d20 + 22 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 22 - 3 = 34
Now seeing the illusion for the illusion it is, Blue ◆ Strides to get away from Shohreh! Just moving Blue off the map for a bit, since he’s coming back.
Blue persistent bleed:2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 DC 15 flat:1d20 ⇒ 8
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
One of the infeasibly large sword swings comes close enough to trim Kolgradd's beard. Despite not necessarily thinking it wise, the elation breaks through with a quick:
"Hah!"
Seeing the power of fear, he takes his time and swings the hammer right up at the fiends face in a way he knows is quite terrifying
Shohreh doesn't wait for the fiend to change his mind, and she flings a blast of sacred fire straight at the monster's back. She pays careful attention to the effect, if any, her spell has on her target.
Holy Light vs Blue's Reflex DC:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (2) + 23 = 25Hero point Holy Light vs Blue's Reflex DC:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31oof Fire, Holy:5d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 6, 2) = 19plus (if Blue is Unholy) Spirit, Holy:5d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 4, 2) = 21 for 40 damage total.
Apologies; Red should’ve had their frightened condition reduced at the end of their previous turn.
Botting Boodiddly: Boodiddly Harmonizes.
Kolgradd attacks Red.
Shohreh sends holy light at Blue! The reroll is enough to hit! And it triggers their weakness to holy. (I’m gonna say that that only triggers once for the whole spell, because it seems a bit excessive for it to deal double damage AND double holy weakness).
Jevar hastes Kolgradd! Swapping the Stride for a shield, since y’all know they have two Reactive Strikes per turn, and haste has a range of 30 feet.
Blue ◆◆ translocates in between Shohreh and Boodiddly and swings at the cleric!
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
With his new speed, Kolgradd keeps up his relentless attack, and manoeuvres himself out of the flanking position.
Shohreh grits her teeth in anticipation, but throws herself backwards and out of the blue fiend's reach before hurling a bolt of holy energy at the one caught between Kolgradd and Jevar.
These are sepids, a type of div—fiends who attempt to destroy all that are made by mortal beings.
Each div has a strange compulsion to act a certain way, and sepids are liars—almost hilariously so. Sepids are predictable liars that always do the opposite of what they claim. Forcing them to tell the truth will cause them metaphysical damage.
Similarly, their lies are so powerful that they can deflect ranged attacks.
LG Male Medium Dwarf Fighter 14 (He/Him) | HP 220 | AC 36 (37 with shield) | F +25 [Battle Hardened] R +22 W +24 | Perc +24 (+26 for init) | Speed 25ft | Spells 1st: Sure Strike, Sure Strike 2nd: Mirror Image, See the Unseen 3rd: Time Jump, Blazing Dive, Wooden Double 4th: Fly 5th: Cloak of Colors| Class DC 33 | Resist: Slashing 4 | Helm 0/2 Cape 0/1
Kolgradd staggers but he doesn't fall. His vision blurs, but the momentum of his hammer spinning around keeps him steady like a gyroscope.
